Street Food Or Restaurants?
Street foods wins hands down, anytime any day.
There's just something different about a nice tasty looking meal which you can simply buy on the run.
Cause in Nigerian traffic, you or the vendor is more often than-not running 😂😂
Of course my country has a lot of restaurants, each shares a wide menu of meals, plenty intercontinental and foreign meals too.
As Asia town has meals from Asia, the regular Killimanjaro and Genesis with their American meals, and if your more in tune to something more traditional or native, you could go to any Bottom Pot outlet around you.
Of course, these restaurants are the popular ones which I know around my city, with 36 states, Nigerian people tastes vary quite widely.
Regardless of our differences in tastes and cuisines, there is something that doesn't end, and this is our love for street food.
Street food in Nigeria, is something that is truly loved and embraced.
With each stall or wheelbarrow owner getting customers everyday, the competition is almost incredibly diminished by the inflow of customers.
Today I'll be talking about two prime definitions of street foods in Nigeria, specifically in my city Port Harcourt.
- Suya 🥓
This is one street food in Nigeria that has stood against the test of time.
Made from the meat of cow, it has so many similar counterparts like kilishi, kebabs and the rest.
Yet Suya, the main Suya, well, that one can't be compared.
I couldn't get a clear picture because of the hustle and bustle of the night market, plus didn't want my phone getting swiped, hence just a quick shot 😂
The main Suya, in all it's glory is seen only in the night, prepared and hawked by the Fulani and Hausa traders from 7pm in the evening till late 11.
These ethnicity dominate and practically rule the Suya market because of their authentic and original sauce which is a mixture of other sauces.
Suya, is nothing more than a thin strip of roasted meat, yet it's the sauces that gives it that taste that everyone loves.
It's quite prominent in my school area and since I stay till 6 and sometimes 7, I manage to get them when they're about to start cooking for the day and i get to be part of their first customers.
I wasn't so lucky today, as I stayed well into 7:30pm before being free to come visit them.
It's quite a blessing that I was able to take that picture, people were literally rushing so they could get the strip of meat that was already cooked and not have to wait for the next.
Suya is usually served accompanied with onions and sometimes some vegetables, to make the meal a bit more balanced but even without it, nobody cares about the balanced nutritional value.
A lovely meal which one can buy in a matter of seconds in the night and still eat with a toothpick as a spoke for the pieces of meat wrapped in a newspaper while on that road home or wherever hos destination is.
- Bolé 🍠
This is one streetfood that has gathered enough fame that it's almost as popular or even more popular than other regular restaurant dishes.
Heck, it even has its own festival
Pay no attention to that handsome foot
After seeing the picture, I'm sure you're asking and all I have to say is...
Yes!!!
Nothing screams Street Foods than something grilled over some hot coal.
Bolé though, unlike its predecessor in this post Suya, is a bit more balanced as it comprises of Yam and/or Potato, Plantain, Sauce and Fish/Chicken/or any other protein.
The sauce is a red sauce made from Palm Oil, Tomatoes and Pepper.
This unlike Suya isn't a roadside food that can easily be eaten on the road.
Bole is also a predominant treat in and near my school area, as they close by 6pm, the Suya stand opens by 7pm so you can see how they have a timetable of sorts.
Bole, is mostly served in a plate with Ugu leaves sometimes to add that bit of green for the costumers.
This food is then eaten in the roadside stall which may or may not have a place to eat.😂
Why eat these foods?
Well, because we can.
These goods aren't particularly good diets that can be eaten regularly when you've gotten older. But right now, you're good to go and have some street food fun.They are People Gatherers
This is so true, the street foods are a great people drawer.
Those who buy and the market itself could get over run by a group of customers.
These customers may have not planned to buy Suya before but as the Suya came, so did his wallet.It's Spicy and great for night stroll chow.
It's just a great choice if you need something to eat urgently that isn't as costly as a restaurant but has the same or an even better taste.
Although like I said before, these foods are not all entirely healthy, so it's best to consume in minimum 😃.
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